Careers in Software Engineering

Software engineering is the process of designing, developing, documenting and testing software applications. If you are a logical and analytical thinker with a passion for programming, then software engineering may be a field you want to explore. Experts who can efficiently and effectively build software and applications are becoming increasingly important, as a direct result of the rapid advancement of technology. Software engineers create software programs or modify programs that already exist to make them more efficient. They can work with a wide range of programming languages including Java and C++. It is crucial for software engineers to remain updated with technology changes so that their skills and knowledge should not become obsolete for employers.

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Career Outlook

Successful careers in software engineers can be formed when you are armed with the right education and skill set. Employment can be found with organizations in both the private and public sectors. Some of the places of employment for software engineers include:

Businesses

Software companies

Consultancy firms

Government agencies

Software engineering professionals can choose from a multitude of roles. Software engineers may choose to work as computer applications engineers or computer systems engineers. Graduates of software engineering programs may find roles as computer systems managers, user interface designers or chief technology officers. Depending on the level of education and experience, the salary of a software engineer is between 52,000 and 84,000 US dollars on average.

Software Engineering Degrees and Programs

Careers in software engineering can be forged after acquiring the right education. There is a wide range of related degrees available for you to choose from. Programs can be found at the certificate, Associate and Bachelor levels. Graduate and doctoral degrees are also available in the field of software engineering. Individuals with an undergraduate degree in software engineering can be hired at an entry level position. By enrolling in a Master's degree in software engineering, you may be able to achieve higher management positions more quickly. A graduate degree is also useful for a software engineer who wishes to keep up to date with the latest in the software engineering field. Some degrees related to software engineering include:

Associate in Software Engineering

BS in Information Technology: Software Engineering

MS in Software Engineering

During the course of these programs, software engineers are trained to become skilled programmers and expert communicators. During their careers in software engineering, these professionals are required to interact with project managers, clients and technical managers among others. As a result they need to have expert oral and written skills. Budgeting skills are also a necessity as software engineers need to keep financial considerations and constraints in mind too. Software engineering students learn to define and document requirements for software. They also learn to develop use case scenarios and to apply various designing models for solutions. Programming and testing are other aspects taught during the course of a software engineering program. Subjects taught include computer science, architecture and networks. Databases, software development and object oriented design are other subjects students are familiarized with.

Frequently Asked Question(s)

Q:While going through the careers in software engineering, there was mention of the course on College Algebra. What are the contents of this course?

A:It is common to get to read about the course on College Algebra while going through the Careers in Software Engineering. This course is worth 2 credits in total. It is designed to provide students with ample understanding of the basic level concepts of the college level concepts of algebra. Students are also provided hands on experience.

Q:While I was searching about a Career In Software Engineering, I came across the different areas of specialization, can you tell me what they are?

A:Software engineering is a popular career option amongst students. There are many areas in this field that one can specialize in. these have been mentioned here: Software design, software construction, software maintenance, software configuration management, software quality, software testing, software engineering process, and software requirements. Careers in this field will be influenced by the area of specialization pursued.

Q:What is the outlook for careers in software engineering?

A:The Bureau of Labor Studies estimates that the growth in demand for computer programmers is likely to grow by approximately 30% between 2010, the last date a study was undertaken, and 2020. This is much faster than in other industries. Therefore, the forecast for a career for the foreseeable future is very good. There is also scope to travel abroad where similar growth is likely.

Q:Can you tell me a bit about the education requirements for computer software engineering careers?

A:If computer engineering career is your ultimate objective; you must acquire certain professional qualifications. You can begin by obtaining a bachelor degree in this field, followed by a graduate program. Apart from these degree programs, there are a number of software engineering diplomas and certificate programs available. These will provide you with knowledge and skill needed for software engineer jobs.

Q:Is a computer software engineer career reasonably secure?

A:The Bureau of Labor Studies reveals that demand in this sector of the IT industry is expected to grow by 30% from 2010, the last time a study was undertaken, to 2020. This is almost twice the national average for other sectors. Therefore, one could say career prospects are generally quite good.

Q:What is a computer software engineer job description?

A:Good management practice promotes the use of job descriptions within the workplace. They are useful as they set out exactly what the role and duties of the employee is within the organization. They are normally presented to the employee when he/she starts. Therefore, there can be very little argument later on as to what is/is not expected from the employee. A computer software engineer job description is a description of the what the role would be of a software engineer.

Q:Can you tell me about jobs for Software Engineering?

A:Software engineers are required to have a thorough understanding of design methodology and also have basic business skills. After gaining experience for some years, software engineers can be promoted to the senior positions or even be made software architect. Experienced software engineers can also be given a role in project management.

Q:Can you give me some brief information about Software Engineering career opportunities?

A:Software engineering careers have become one of the fastest growing careers of today. Jobs in this field are related to managing, maintaining, and developing software systems for various organizations. Salary levels in this field depend upon the level of qualifications, prior work experience, specialization area, and job rank in an organization.

Q:Can you name a few jobs that I may come across if I pursue Software Engineering career paths?

A:Software Engineering careers include a number of jobs that deal with creating and managing software solutions for firms. If you pursue this career path, you may come across the following job options: technical program manager, software engineer, software development manager, software product engineer, development relations manager, storage engineer, firmware development engineer, and more.

Q:Can I pursue Software Engineering careers with just an associate degree in this academic area?

A:An associate degree in software engineering is the most basic level qualification you can earn in this field. The program aims at providing you with basic knowledge of software engineering. With this degree, you can apply for assistant level jobs and entry level jobs in software houses. But to pursue a higher paying advanced career, you will have to earn higher level qualifications in software engineering.

Q:Could you tell me a bit about Software Engineering jobs?

A:Today the world is run on IT and if you are a lucky individual armed with the right degree in this field the doors of opportunity will open up for you like magic. Employment for graduates with software engineering degrees can be found both in the private and public sectors such as: corporate offices, software companies, IT consultancy firms and Government agencies. Professionals with this degree can stand to earn anything between 52,000 and 84,000 US dollars on average per year.

Q:What are the expected Software Engineering salaries?

A:A lot of career options are open to Software engineers; from computer applications engineers to computer systems engineers, computer systems managers, user interface designers or chief technology officers, thus the choices are numerous. However, this is also dependent on a professional's level of specialization, experience and place of employment. On average they can expect to earn between 52,000 and 84,000 US dollars per year.